Police probe possible family feud, business extortion as suspects flee in unplated white pickup
COTABATO CITY — Three people, including a former barangay councilor, were killed and two others wounded after five armed men opened fire on their victims at a fishpond in Timako Hill, Barangay Kalanganan 2, Cotabato City, on Friday morning, October 23.
The attack occurred at approximately 7:40 a.m. at Maceda Fishpond, according to preliminary information from the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR). Police received the report at 8:47 a.m. and responded to the scene at around 8:55 a.m.
The fatalities were identified as Datu Maceda Taup Yusop, 53, a married businessman and resident of Purok Waya, Mother Barangay Tamontaka, Cotabato City; Mokamad Tabunaway Lanta, a married adult resident of Barangay Salaman, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat; and Reni Hamsa, a married fisherman from Timako, Barangay Kalanganan 2.
Two other victims, Daryl Bagundang Oliveros and Jun Tabunaway Lanta, 49, a fisherman from Bagua Bagua 2, Cotabato City, sustained injuries and were taken to Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) for medical treatment.
Initial reports also identified one of the fatalities as a former barangay councilor, although further details regarding his previous public position were not immediately available.
Suspects allegedly posed as buyers
Initial police findings indicated that five unidentified men arrived in a white Toyota Hilux pickup truck without a license plate and allegedly arranged to meet the victims at the fishpond under the pretense of purchasing products.
When the victims arrived, three of the suspects reportedly stepped out of the vehicle carrying long firearms and immediately opened fire on them.
The sudden attack left three people dead and two others wounded. The suspects subsequently fled, according to the preliminary account.
Authorities have yet to publicly identify the gunmen or establish the full circumstances leading to the shooting.
Family feud and extortion among possible motives
Investigators are examining a longstanding family feud and alleged business-related extortion as possible motives behind the deadly attack.
However, police have not yet conclusively established the motive, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged dispute and extortion remain under investigation. These leads have not been established as facts and should not be treated as proof of responsibility for the killings.
The investigation is continuing, with authorities reportedly seeking closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the surrounding area to help identify the suspects, trace their movements and establish the sequence of events before and after the shooting.
The identities of the gunmen, the precise motive and the possible involvement of other individuals remain unresolved.
Investigation continues as families claim the bodies
The remains of the three fatalities have reportedly been claimed by their respective families for burial in accordance with Muslim traditions.
Police are continuing their investigation and efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The shooting adds to concerns over armed violence in the area, particularly where alleged personal disputes or business-related conflicts may be involved. However, the specific circumstances of this incident must be established through evidence and the ongoing police investigation.
As of the latest information available for this report, no suspects had been publicly identified, and authorities had not announced any arrests.
The investigation remains ongoing. All allegations regarding the motive are preliminary, and the suspects remain unidentified.